Chapter 1 Lean on Me

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain we all have sorrow but if we are wise we know that there's always tomorrow Lean on me, when you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on For it won't be long till I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on Please swallow your pride If I have things you need to borrow For no one can fill those of your needs That you don't let show Lean on me, when you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on For it won't be long till I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on If there is a load you have to bear That you can't carry I'm right up the road I'll share your load If you just call me So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on I just might have a problem that you'd understand We all need somebody to lean on Lean on me when you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on For it won't be long Till I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on

I got a call from Sookie one night that something had happened between Mom and Luke and I needed to come home right away. What I saw when I got there shocked me. I had never, not once in my life, seen Mom the way she was that night. It scared me. I can remember when I was little and she would cry because money was tight or because she had had a bad day, it kind of scared me. But I was four at the time and that was understandable. The way she cried that night scared me even though I was twenty. She went on and on about how he could have been the one and she messed everything up and everyone hated her. It was like a whole different woman. I realized then that Mom's relationship with Luke had been different from the others. The person I was holding as she cried herself to sleep was a person with a broken heart...and I had never seen Mom that way before.

She went on with her life of course. It wasn't the same life she was used to, but it was a life. She woke up and spent a little less time choosing her outfit than she had before. She went to Weston's and enjoyed the coffee a little less than she had before. She worked at the inn and came home a little less than she had before. She visited me and smiled a little less than she had before. It was hard to watch Mom that way. She was herself, but at the same time, she wasn't. Everything about her was stunted just a bit. The sparkle in her eyes, the delight at a favorite part in a sucky movie, the thrill in her voice when she made a joke. She wasn't as happy as she had been before, and I knew it. I worried about her just as I would worry about Lane or Paris in a similar situation, but there was nothing I could do to help her. Things were just going to have to stay the way they were until she could overcome it or if Luke came back.

Chapter 2. Nothing changed or forgotten

Luke got up that morning and went downstairs to the diner he went toward the door and opened it. There attached to the door was an envelope with his name written on it and From Rory. He took it off the door and took a sheet of paper out opens at eight today. Then he went upstairs sat down and opened the envelope he took the sheets of paper out and began to read.

Luke,

I know that there is a lot happening right know and I hope your okay. You might be wondering how my mom is all I can say is she is hurt, heartbroken, and not her funny witty self. She told me not to skip any classes but right now she need me more than Yale does. I wish this never happened. Grandma and Chris don't know you. Don't let their words interfere. If you do nothing will get any better. You know my mom and I better then anybody. My grandparents and Chris think my mom is still the same sixteen-year-old girl they don't know her you do.

I can't loose you and neither can my mom. You mean so much to us. You're the only one that has ever made her as happy as she was. The next sheet is something that I didn't have the guts to ever give to you.

Luke took out the other sheet of paper and began to read before finishing the letter

A daddy is someone who's there for you

A daddy is someone who always comes through

A daddy is there to wipe the tears away

A daddy is there for every birthday

A daddy is there to pick you up when you fall

A daddy is around when you need him most of all

My daddy is special I know this is true

My daddy is special he always comes through

My daddy is there to wipe the tears away

My daddy is there for every birthday

My daddy is around to pick me up when I fall

My daddy is around when I need him most of all

To my daddy who is special in every way

Love you, Rory

As Luke read tears came to his eyes. He then went back to the letter and finish reading.

Chris has never been my dad or daddy that's you. I don't want to lose you too. People make mistakes it happens. But my mom would never do anything to hurt you I know that for a fact. I don't like this whole break up. Your family, so just don't be afraid to come home.

Love.

Your Rory

P.S. I Love You Daddy.

Luke got up and took out a sheet of paper and began to write. When he was done he went downstairs. Later that day he pulled Lane aside.

" I need you to give this to Rory." He told her

" Okay." Lane said confused.

" So go give it to her." Luke ordered.

With that Lane left to give Rory the letter.

Chapter 3 Read

Lane got to the Gilmore house and rang the doorbell a couple of time. The door opened and there stood Rory.

" I thought you where at work." Rory said.

" I was! I was told give this to you." Lane said, " I should get back. See you later." With that Lane left and Rory shut the front door and yelled to her mom telling her she would be in her room. In her room she opened the Envelope and took out the sheets of paper.

Rory,

I never wanted this to happen either. The fact that Emily didn't like me and then Chris on top of that was too much. I want to fix this and I will. Just take care of your mom like you have been.

Thank you for that poem it means a lot to me and helps a lot. To me you are my daughter. When I see my parent I tell them about you and I say My Rory graduated from Chilton, My Rory got into Princeton, Harvard, and Yale. My parents would have loved you and your mom. I will see you and your mom soon. I promise.

Give the other sheet of paper to your mom for me. This is a start I guess. Just make sure she reads it and doesn't throw it away.

Love you,

Luke

Rory had tears coming down her face. Her door opened at that moment and there stood her mom.

" Hey" Rory said

" Hey." Lorelai answered and sat next to her daughter.

"Here this is for you." Rory said and handed her a piece of paper " I got a letter to. Just please read it mom."

Lorelai opened the Letter and recognized the handwriting. She looked at her daughter who just nodded for her to read it. So she began to read.

Lorelai,

As you know I am not good with words. I know I hurt you and that I regret because I promised myself I wouldn't be like those other jerks who hurt you. All I have to say is this sucks I wish it were all a horrible dream that I could wake up from with you in my arms. I will fix this.

So the person probably sitting next to you reading over your shoulder most likely should tell you about the letter just don't get mad it helps to know that she thinks of me that way and she knows what I think.

Ignore the ribbons. Just don't change. Call me when your ready or just come to the diner like you usually do after closing or before whichever is fine. Make sure Rory is in town when you do cause I want to see her too.

I miss you,

Luke

Lorelai had tears coming down her face at the end of the letter. She turned to Rory who then began to tell her everything which made more tears.

" Mom what are you thinking?"

" Right now all I can say is I miss him so much. But he needs to come when the time is right." Lorelai answered her daughter in a whimper.

Chapter 4

As Rory was leaving the house on Lorelais request she saw Luke's truck pull up and Luke hop out. A smile appeared on Rory's face as he walked toward the porch.

" So the man who won my mom's heart has returned." She said as he walked up the stairs to the porch.

Luke laughed at Rory's comment.

Rory walked over to him and gave him a hug at this action surprised Luke but he relaxed and wrapped his arms around her. She pulled back and whispered " You never gave up on us don't start now."

She then backed up and opened the door to let him in and went in behind him then closed the door.

" Mom." She yelled " Get your butt down here now."

They heard footsteps coming from the stairs she then turned saying " Rory I thought I told you …." She stopped when she saw Luke standing there.

Rory walked up to her mom and whispered in her ear " You love him mom don't let him go." She pulled back and looked at her mom " I'll be in my room if you need me." She said and walked away.

Chapter 5

Once she heard Rory's door close she sat on the couch. When she saw he didn't move she said, " Are you going to sit or just stand there like that." Luke sat down on the opposite side of the couch. " We need to talk" Luke said

" Yeah we do." She answered

He looked up at her and began to speak.

" I never meant to hurt you Lorelai but I did. I meant everything I said in that letter I do miss you." He finished

"She's my mother. She's supposed to care about me. All my life she has disapproved of me and I have disappointed her. It's just the game we play." She saw him wince as she brushed away the years of pain. "But this was different. She saw me happy, really, really happy. She knew that I cared about you and that this was serious and she deliberately tried to take that away. She's never intentionally done something to hurt me before and I don't know how to forgive her for that." She choked back a sob as tears welled in her eyes. "It just hurts so much that she cares so little for me. And…" The tears had started streaming down her face as years of repressed pain fell upon her all at once. She wasn't sure exactly when or how it happened, but she realized at some point that Luke had pulled her toward him and she was resting her head on his chest, sobbing. He said nothing, just held her, smoothed her hair and gently rubbed her back. They sat like that for a while; the only sounds her soft sobs. She pulled back " I miss you too much and I need you to understand more than anything thing that you are the most important thing in my life, besides Rory, of course. I can't handle not being near you, not seeing you everyday. I need to wake up to you sleeping next to me. The last three weeks have been hell for me. I woke up everyday, and the first thing that comes to mind is that I need to see you. And I can't, and Luke, I can't do it. I need you in my life. My life seems so empty without you. I can't even begin to explain how much you mean to me. You have always been there for me when no one else has. I could always count on you to make me feel better. I knew that I could always trust you. Luke, you are the one constant in my life... and I don't think my life would be the same without you. You know what? I take that back. I KNOW my life would ever be the same without you. Luke, that night with Chris meant nothing to me. I didn't tell you about it because we were doing so well, and I didn't want something that meant nothing to me come between us. But I guess that backfired, huh? Everything I had hoped to avoid happened. I didn't want to lose you Luke. I NEVER want to lose you. I... I think I love you."

Luke's eyes widened then he said " What" Lorelai got up and sat on the table in front of him. Just as she was about to speak the doorbell rang.

" Hold on." She told Luke then got up to answer the door

Chapter 5

Lorelai was walking toward the door when she heard Rory say she would get it so she walked back to the couch where Luke sat.

Rory opened the door to find Emily on the other side of the door. Emily pushed past Rory and walked into the Living room where she found who she was looking for.

" Lorelai Gilmore you are the most disrespectful person I know. How could you not talk to me after what I did for you?" before she could finish Rory interrupted her.

" Grandma you do not have the right to barge into this house and yell at mom. She did nothing to you. You messed up. My mom was happy and so was I." she yelled she was about to speak again when her grandmother started to talk to her in a harsh tone.

" You do not talk to me like that young lady. Your mother messed up her life."

" No I can talk to you however I want, and my mom did not mess up her life or mine. Look around you grandma this is a life. My mom did this all by herself while raising me." Rory yelled

" Well if she would have married your father she would have a better life." Emily said raising her voice.

" What life is that? You mean the life she ran away from. The life she doesn't want. Chris is not right for her. If you knew her you would know that. Chris biologically is my father but my real dad is sitting right their on that couch. Luke is my dad. He is family to us weather you like it or not grandma. And the person sitting on the other side of the couch is the best friend and mom a girl could ask for. Do you remember my speech at Chilton? I guess not let me remind you of what I said. But my ultimate inspiration comes from my best friend, the dazzling woman from whom I received my name and my life's blood, Lorelai Gilmore. My mother never gave me any idea that I couldn't do whatever I wanted to do or be whomever I wanted to be. As she guided me through these incredible eighteen years, I don't know if she ever realized that the person I most wanted to be was her." Rory yelled with tears running down her face. " My mom and your daughter built her own Inn. She owns it with Sookie. You should be proud of her. I want my mom to be happy and I will do anything to make sure that happens. She deserves to be happy. Luke is the person who makes her happy. I love him like a daughter loves her dad. You are not taking that from me." Rory looks down at her shoes away from her grandma and says softly " I think you should leave."

Emily stood there in shock from what Rory said. After a minute or so she left. After Lorelai heard the door shut she got up from the couch walking toward Rory and pulled her into a hug.

" I love you kid." She said to Rory

"I love you too mom." Rory pulled back a little " I'm sorry for bursting at grandma but she made me so mad. She has no clue what she lost."

Chapter 7

"Thanks kid. Come on let's sit." Lorelai said to Rory

Rory and Lorelai walked toward the couch and sat down. They both saw that Luke hadn't moved or spoken since Emily came. Rory looked at her mom who just shrugged. Rory leaned in and whispered in her ear. " Did you tell him."? She looked back at her mom who nodded.

" Luke?" Rory said. He looked up at them.

" Um. Sorry you had to witness that but she just made me so mad and then I busted." Rory started to babble.

" Rory it's okay. I was just processing." Luke answered.

" Okay mom I'm going for a walk to cool off need me to get anything." Rory asked

" Nothing I can think of at this time but I'll call you if I do." Lorelai answered

" I'm sure you will." Rory said smiling. " See you guys later."

Then she left the two alone.

Chapter 8

Lorelai looked at her hands for a while ' I said I loved him' Lorelai thought.

' The Gilmore girls love me as more than a coffee supplier. You love them back so just tell her. I miss her so much.' Luke thought.

"Luke."

"Lorelai"

They said in unison. Lorelai looked at her feet and smiled.

Luke looked at her then said, " Did you say you love me?" Lorelai raised her head and faced Luke " Yes." She whispered and looked back down at her feet. But he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes and said, " I love you too."

A smile appeared on her face that had not been seen by anyone in a while. She moved onto his lap and covered his lips with hers. First it started out slow then got passionate. Luke was focused on her bottom lip. Lorelai moaned. He opened his mouth and let her tongue in. Luke moaned. He laid down on the couch and she landed on top on him she giggled into his mouth and he smiled. After a few minutes they both pulled back for some air.

She lay her head down on his chest and whispered, " I love you, Luke." He moved his hand under her shirt and rubbed her skin softly then whispered back " I love you too, Lorelai." She her smile got wider when he said that.

Before long both of them were asleep on the couch.

Chapter 9

Later that evening Rory came home.

"Mom I'm home." She yelled. There was no answer ' she must be upstairs' Rory thought. She walked toward the stairs and there she saw her mom lying with her head on Luke's chest with her arms wrapped around his stomach. Luke had his hand on his back.

Rory smiled at the scene before her, her mom was happy again and her family was back together.

She walked over and put a blanket over then whispered " Night Mommy, Night Daddy." With a smile across her face. She then went into her room and fell asleep with the same smile on her face as Luke and her mom.

Chapter 10

The next morning Luke was the first to awake he got out of Lorelai's embrace and made some coffee then left a note for her and Rory.

Chapter 11

Later that morning Lorelai and Rory woke up and met in the kitchen. Lorelai found the note stuck to the coffee pot.

Made you two coffee addicts coffee come by the diner for breakfast.

Love you both,

Luke

Lorelai showed Rory the note and they both smiled after they drained the pot of Coffee both got ready and headed for Luke's on the way to Luke's.

When they got there the door opened with a ring. Luke looked up from what he was doing and smiled then the diner got silent. Lorelai walked up to Luke and said "I guess my powers to make someone speechless works on everyone."

Luke rolled his eyes at her then leaned in and gave her a kiss. When they pulled apart everyone started to chatter and Kirk ran out of the diner yelling 'Taylor owes me 20 bucks.'

Rory smiled and sat at counter. Lorelai soon joined her and Luke took their orders.

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 only is in Richards's perspective. Two days Later at Yale.

I glance at my watch as I walk to Rory's building. I'm running a bit late for our lunch together. Emily doesn't know about this lunch with Rory as she is still sensitive about the distance between them, but I feel that I can get quite a bit accomplished at this lunch. First of all, I want to do a little reconnaissance work to see if I can discover what exactly is going on between Lorelai and the diner owner. The second, but more important reason is that I miss being able to talk to Rory without the strain between her and Emily tainting everything. She was much more civilized this past Friday night dinner, but she still wasn't her usual self.

I want to talk to Rory about what her grandmother did. I hope to make her understand that Emily had Lorelai's best interest at heart. I'm sure that Rory is just reacting to her mother's anger, and, despite what Lorelai says, she feels that she has to be loyal to her mother in this. I want Rory to know that her mother is perfectly capable of fighting her own battles, and that she doesn't need to alienate her grandmother on her mother's behalf.

I finally reach Rory's door and knock. It's not long before she answers.

"Grandpa!" she says as she greets me with a smile and a hug.

"Are you ready to go?" I ask.

"Yes, just let me grab my coat," she says as she walks back to her room. We decide to forgo the dining hall in favor of a charming little pub not far from campus. I'm hoping that it will give us the privacy I want for our conversation. We order our food and talk about books that we've read recently. Time flies and before I know it, our lunch has arrived. Rory takes an enthusiastic bite of her cheeseburger but then looks a little disappointed as she swallows it.

"Is your food all right?" I ask her.

"Yes Grandpa. It's just not as good as Luke's cheeseburgers. I miss those cheeseburgers. I sometimes dream about swimming in them. I tried to have one when I was at home on spring break, but the break-up was seriously messing with his cooking ability. Now that he and Mom are back together, I may have to go home this weekend just to get one."

"Oh, so your mother and Luke got back together?" I ask as nonchalantly as possible, while trying to control my jolt of surprise.

"Yes, last week," she answers and she smiles into her glass as she takes a drink.

I take a sip of my own drink as I try to think of a way to tactfully ask the question that I want to ask. I notice Rory studying me as she eats her fries.

"Grandpa, do you have something on your mind?"

I pause for a moment to collect my thoughts. "Yes. I know that this is a sore subject, but I'm wondering why your mother still refuses to come to Friday night dinners if she is back with Luke. I don't know if you're aware of it, but your grandmother went to see him last week to tell him to get back together with your mother."

"She mentioned something about that, but Grandpa, you have to realize that Mom and Luke getting back together has nothing to do with getting Grandma's permission to date."

"I'm not sure that I understand."

"Luke has never done anything in his entire life just because someone told him to. In fact, he's much more likely not to do it just to be contrary. Luke was already close to the breaking point when Grandma showed up. He and Mom had a long talk that night and worked everything out. Thank Goodness. It was horrible watching both of them be so miserable." She smiles fondly and I realize, for the first time, that she really does care for Luke a great deal.

"Well, be that as it may, your grandmother has tried to put everything right. Shouldn't that count for something? Your mother is being deliberately hurtful..."

"As opposed to what Grandma did?" Rory interrupts me, anger apparent in her voice.

"Rory..."

"No, Grandpa," she starts and then she pauses. I can see the distaste in her face, and I know that she hates fighting with me as much as I hate fighting with her, but she continues on. "Grandma plotted to break them up. She did something to deliberately hurt and embarrass Luke, and the only reason she told Luke to go back to Mom is because Mom won't have anything to do with Grandma. She's not really sorry, and both Mom and Luke know that she's not really sorry." Her voice gets quieter. "It's just incredibly sad to me that you guys don't fully realize the damage that Grandma did with her relationship with Mom."

"What do you mean?"

She doesn't say anything for a moment and then she quietly begins, "Did you know that in most of the fights you've had with Mom over the past few years, I've been on your side?"

I'm too surprised to respond and she continues. "I was always telling Mom that she needed to share her life with the two of you. I encouraged her to talk to you and Grandma about the people she was seeing and the things that were going on in her life, but she always resisted. She was afraid that if she let you guys in too much that one of you would find a way to destroy her happiness." Rory looks down at her plate and takes another bite of her cheeseburger, as if to give herself time to put her thoughts into words. "I always thought that she was just being paranoid, but Grandma's actions just proved that Mom has been right all along. Mom was finally opening up with the two of you. She wanted to include you guys in her life. She let her guard down, and Grandma swooped in and almost destroyed the best relationship Mom's ever been in."

I speak up to defend Emily at this unfair statement. "Your Grandmother just wanted to make sure that your mother was aware of all of her options before she got too serious with Luke."

"Grandpa, you don't understand," she gestures with her hand to emphasize her point. "The very fact that she is willing to date Luke shows how serious she is. Luke has been a part of our everyday lives for almost as long as I can remember. Mom doesn't date people that aren't easily excised from her life if things go wrong. Even Max left our lives without too much fuss after she ended the engagement. Mom knew up front that wouldn't be possible with Luke. She knew that if things went badly it would be bad for everyone, but she felt that he was worth the risk." Her voice is rising again in anger as she goes on. "The fact that Mom brought him to a family function should have been another major clue that she was already serious about him. When was the last time that Mom willingly brought a date to a Gilmore family function?"

I have to admit to myself that I can't remember it happening in recent history. Rory is quiet for a moment as I reflect on everything that she's told me.

"Grandpa, I guess I just don't understand why the two of you have it in for Luke," she begins again quietly. "He is the kindest, sweetest guy I know. And he loves Mom so much. And I know that he loves me too. He has always taken care of both of us..." she pauses and I'm appalled to see tears forming in her eyes.

"We just ... your grandmother and I just don't think that he can provide the kind of life that your mother deserves."

"You mean your kind of life," she says without rancor. "No offense Grandpa, but has there been anytime during the last four years - no anytime in Mom's entire life that she has ever given you the impression that she wants your kind of life."

I am stunned into silence, and a stray memory of Lorelai at the age of ten pops into my head. She was fighting her mother on wearing a very expensive dress to the birthday party of an important client's little girl. She had been screaming about hating the dress and hating going to these birthday parties where she never had any fun. I then remember another time when Emily was attempting to teach Lorelai the proper way to serve tea. Lorelai had been supremely disinterested and would make little towers with the teacups whenever her mother's back was turned. Emily and I have always thought that Lorelai was just rebellious from a very young age and had never grown out of it. I don't think the thought has ever entered into either one of our heads that Lorelai's behavior is much more than simple rebellion.

Rory begins to talk again, drawing my thoughts back to the present. "She has the life that she wants with the man that she wants. Luke doesn't need to own a bunch of diners to make Mom happy. In fact, she would probably hate it if he franchised because that would mean that he would have less time to spend with her."

I remember all of the times that I spent away from my family because of business trips and meetings.

"Luke is happy with his life the way things are," Rory continues. "He'll deny it to the bitter end, but he loves spending time with the people who come into his diner. He loves cooking greasy food that he himself would never eat. But as much as Luke loves running the diner, helping his friends and family always comes first. Did you know that he drove Mom to the hospital that night you got sick at the Christmas party? He closed up the diner and told everyone the food was on the house just so that he could help Mom when she needed him. He hates hospitals, but he stayed there until we knew that you were going to be okay, and then he made sure that I got home safely. That's the kind of man that he is."

I'm surprised by Rory's impassioned defense of Luke. I knew that Lorelai and Luke were friends before they had started dating, but I didn't fully realize the important part he played in the lives of my girls. Suddenly, I want to know what Rory sees when she sees Luke.

"Tell me more about him," I ask her.

She smiles brightly. "He's the best," she begins. "He's always there for us. Even before he and Mom were dating. I don't think there is one square inch in our house that he hasn't worked on in some way. He built most of my bookcases." She laughs a bit to herself, as she seems to remember something else. "I got the chicken pox right when they first became friends, and I was so miserable. I was covered with blisters, and I was really grumpy with Mom because she would not let me scratch myself. I got really picky about food and refused to eat anything that she prepared. I love Mom to death, but she cannot cook to save her life. I guess she talked to Luke about it because he came over to our house and asked me what I wanted to eat. I had blisters in my mouth and it was hard for me to eat anything solid, so I said mashed potatoes. And wouldn't you know that he brought me fresh mashed potatoes three times a day for a week while I was recuperating." She smiles and there is a hint of wonder in her voice as if she still can't believe that he would do that for her. "He would deliver them himself, and he would always bring me a little present during the lunchtime delivery: puzzle books, Mad Libs, joke books. Anything to help keep my mind off of the fact that I was sick."

I have to admit that this information fascinates me. I don't really know that much about Rory's life before she started Chilton. She looks at me to see if I want her to continue, and I gesture for her to do so.

"I've never doubted that Luke cares about me. The first week of my senior year Luke asked me if he could come to my graduation. He asked me for the date months in advance so that he could make sure that the diner was covered."

She looks down and plays with her remaining food for a moment and I know that she's thinking about Christopher and how he was unable to attend. "Dad didn't even know when my graduation was until about three weeks beforehand, and then he told me that he had an important business trip that he couldn't get out of." She stares off into space for a moment and then takes a deep breath before continuing. "I understand. I do, but it still hurts that he wasn't there."

The waitress comes with the check and I hand her my credit card. Rory and I are silent as we leave the pub. We're almost to the car when Rory stops and turns to me.

"I don't think it's too late for you and Grandma to have a relationship with Mom. I know she doesn't always act like it, and I'll be the first to admit that she likes shocking the two of you, but deep down Mom really wants your approval. She's just not willing to sacrifice who she is in order to get it. If you and Grandma really want a relationship with her, you're going to have to accept her for who she is, and stop putting her down for not choosing the life that you wanted her to choose."

I think back to Lorelai's smile when I complimented her on the Dragonfly last week, and then I look at this wonderful young lady in front of me that Lorelai brought up under extremely difficult circumstances. But then memories of all of the pain and embarrassment that Lorelai has caused both Emily and myself enter my thoughts. I remember the looks I got from business associates as word of her pregnancy and refusal to marry Christopher spread. I remember Emily refusing to leave our bed for a month after Lorelai had runaway with Rory. I remember lying to my friends about her whereabouts because I couldn't stand to tell them that she'd rather be a maid than live with us. As always, when it concerns my daughter my emotions battle with one another.

"We are proud of her," I tell Rory quietly. "It's just difficult for us to forget everything that's happened."

"Grandpa, if you and Grandma want to be a part of Mom's life, you're going to need to forgive her for hurting you and realize that she's not your wild teenage daughter anymore. She's an adult who is very capable of making her own decisions. You have every right to be proud of her. She's an amazing person." Rory's pride in her mother is obvious.

"Mom is the strongest person that I know, and she deserves to be in a relationship that makes her happy, and Luke makes her happier than I've ever seen her. Happier than she was with Max, happier than she was with Jason, and way happier than she ever was with Dad." Rory pauses for a moment and then continues on, "Dad's a good guy, but Mom needs someone that she can lean on in times of trouble. Dad has never been that person. I used to wish that he was, but I know now that he's not strong enough to be the kind of partner that she needs. Luke is."

She continues toward the car, and I open the door for her so that she can get in. Rory has certainly given me lots of food for thought about Lorelai. I even want to re-re-meet Luke, so that I can look for all the things that Lorelai and Rory obviously see in him beneath his slovenly appearance. I want to go home to talk about these new insights with Emily. I honestly don't know if it will be possible to put all of the hurt behind us, but I've both lived with and without a relationship with my daughter, and I have to admit that as difficult as Lorelai is at times, I much prefer having her in my life.